FAQ

What’s happening with solar in Tippecanoe County?

A 1,790-acre industrial-scale solar installation is proposed for productive agricultural fields surrounded by hundreds of residential homes in rural West Lafayette.

The project needed a zoning Special Exception in order to proceed. A citizen’s action group, Tippecanoe County Residents Against Utility Scale Solar (TCRAUSS), formed in opposition.

A full hearing was held before the Tippecanoe County Board of Zoning Appeals on Aug. 27, 2025. Over 30 members of the TCRAUSS group spoke about deficiencies in the plan. The BZA voted 4-3 to DENY the project.

The developers have filed an appeal in the courts. Members of TCRAUSS filed a motion to intervene in the appeal as interested third parties--and the group is currently raising money for this phase of the fight.

What’s the problem with industrial solar?

TCRAUSS believes that the problems with this particular project are location and scale and that this very massive industrial-scale project does not belong on productive agricultural fields surrounded by residential homes.

The construction and installation of an industrial-size solar utility will destroy prime farmland in exchange for production of electricity that will be sent to the grid for use outside Tippecanoe County.

TCRAUSS also has concerns over reduced property values, economic loss for farm-related businesses, soil erosion, drainage and groundwater issues, harm to wildlife, noise, and visual disturbance.

What are harms in this plan?

According to TCRAUSS, there are numerous harms in this plan.

Property values are at stake. Studies show that large-scale utility projects near residential areas lower values. Multiple homes will be surrounded on 2, 3, or 4 sides.
Construction can lead to soil compaction and erosion, flooding, excess noise, dust, damage to roads, and issues on surrounding properties.
The area has miles of drain tiles, three significant watersheds, and seven year-round wetlands. Damage to this drainage system can cause contamination to the water supply and your well.
The project will remove AA farm ground from production. The land will never be farmed again in our lifetimes, if ever. The construction will destroy topsoil in the area.
The project submission does not address the hazards of industrial-scale solar installations. The plan has no operation/maintenance plan, no stormwater pollution prevention plan, no wetland delineation, no emergency plan.
This project creates negative economic impacts in the county. Agricultural service-related jobs and wages will be lost.
An insufficiently funded decommissioning plan leave the question--who will really pay to restore the land in 40 years?
The plan also fails to meet multiple county ordinances.

Is Indiana really good for solar?

The U.S. average is 205 sunny days a year. Tippecanoe County experiences an average of 186 sunny days a year. This includes days when the weather is mostly clear or partly cloudy, allowing for some amount of sunshine. Since there is no power generation between dark and dawn (half of the time) and no sun half of the daylight time, at best this installation will generate energy just ¼ of the time. Whether solar makes sense in colder climates where there is snow is open to question.

What did the zoning board decide?

A full hearing before the Tippecanoe County Board of Zoning Appeals was held on Aug. 27, 2025. Opponents gave a well-researched presentation, which addressed all the issues the BZA had to consider. The BZA voted 4-3 against the project.

Those speaking in opposition included farmers, professors, experts in soil types, drainage experts, agronomists, wildlife habitat experts, engineers, emergency responders, small business owners, realtors, state and local officials, accounting and finance experts, teachers, animal science experts, construction experts, a school bus driver, and environmental management experts.

Extensive examples were given to show why this is a bad project, in the wrong location, and to show that the plan is incomplete and insufficient. You can view the entire six hours of testimony online at the BZA website.

What’s this appeal about?

After many hours of testimony, the BZA voted NO, which should have settled the matter. But the developers have appealed the decision in the courts, so it now goes before a judge. The fight is far from over.

Who is TCRAUSS?

Tippecanoe County Residents Against Utility Scale Solar (TCRAUSS) is a citizens action group dedicated to (1) stopping this specific industrial-scale solar project and (2) developing better County ordinances for industrial-scale solar in the future.

Who are TCRAUSS members?

TCRAUSS members include homeowners, farmers, professors, experts in soil types and drainage, agronomists, wildlife habitat experts, engineers, emergency responders, a school bus driver, small business owners, realtors, state and local officials, accounting and finance experts, teachers, construction and environmental management experts.

What has TCRAUSS done so far?

Local residents first got wind of a large solar project coming to Shelby Township in March 2025.

Over 100 neighbors began meeting weekly to plan a response to this threat. They backed a successful moratorium effort on industrial-scale solar. Members continue to give input on the review of County ordinances.

The group researched 36 separate presentations about deficiencies in the industrial solar plan to present at the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting. They formed an LLC and raised over $25,000 among themselves for legal representation.

The group has now filed as “interveners” in the appeal of the BZA decision, and are currently raising funds for legal representation for this phase of the fight.

Why does TCRAUSS need money now?

TCRAUSS is specifically focused on upholding the BZA denial of the special exception. The group has also backed the moratorium effort passed by the County Commissioners, and has input on the review of County ordinances on utility-scale solar.

It is in neighboring homeowners’ best interests to stay involved and visible in the ongoing legal proceedings. We need professional representation to ensure vigorous, assertive, and appropriate legal support of the BZA decision.

In addition, there is legal work to be done on the development of new county ordinances for industrial-scale solar, which TCRAUSS is actively participating in.

Your donation will help support local decision-making on land use issues. Not only with this particular BZA ruling, but also with future zoning considerations.

How much money does TCRAUSS need?

Legal costs have already surpassed $25,000—raised informally by neighbors—and we won the first battle!

Now the tank needs to be refilled for the second round. How much? This depends on the how many motions, filings, and other legal maneuverings are initiated in court, and on what the judge decides.

Moving forward, total costs could be much higher.

Every contribution matters. Whether it’s $25 or $250, your support is critical.

What if any money is left over?

Any remaining funds after the court case and the ordinance work will be returned to the donors based upon their percentage of the total donations (based upon Treasurer’s records).

Can I donate anonymously?

We respect the need for anonymity and confidentiality over who contributes and how much.

Is my donation tax deductible?

We are NOT a non-profit, so donations are NOT tax deductible.

How can I donate?

Make checks payable to: TCRAUSS LLC

Mail to: TCRAUSS LLC
PO Box 216
Otterbein, IN 47970-0216

Or use the VENMO code.

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